"Who are you?" returned Tad boldly.
"I reckon my question gits the first answer, seeing as I've got the drop on you."
Tad all at once realized that the sound of falling water was in the air. With it came the thought that these must be the Rangers.
"We're the Pony Rider Boys," he said, speaking confidently.
"The which?"
He repeated his answer.
"Wait a minute. Send for Joe," said the man in a lower tone. "You fellows stay just as you are if you don't want some daylight let through you."
"I—-I wish we did have a little daylight," stammered Chunky, which elicited a short laugh from his companions. "Yeow!" bowled the fat boy as a figure appeared beside him and a pair of iron arms grasped his hands pulling him down, nearly unseating him. "Yeow! Let go!"
"It's all right, boys," spoke up the familiar voice of Lieutenant
Withem. "I'd know this fellow in the dark as well as in the light.
I'm Withem."
At the lieutenant's reassuring words the Rangers—-for the boys had stumbled upon the camp of the men of Captain McKay's command—-crowded forward, talking and laughing, three of them taking the horses as the party dismounted, then leading the way into the bushes and in among the rocks where the lads came upon a campfire, around which were seated five or six other Rangers.